Accordianist Clifton Chenier The King Of Zydco died on this day in 1987 in Lafayette, LA at age 62. Chenier was thefirst Zydeco artist to receive a Grammy. There is a great athology of Chenier`s work on Rhino, Zydeco Dynamite, but also check out his early recordings, Zodeco Blues and Boogie on Specialty Records, collect his 1950 singles, and Louisiana Blues and Zydeco on Arhoolie, and especially King of The Bayou, also on Arhoolie. Chenier began his recording career in 1954, when he signed with Elko Records and released Cliftons Blues, a regional success. His first hit record was soon followed by Ay Tite Fille (Hey, Little Girl) (a cover of Professor Longhairs song).[1] This received some mainstream success. With the Zydeco Ramblers, Chenier toured extensively. He also toured in the early days with Clarence Garlow, billed as the Two Crazy Frenchmen.[6] Chenier was signed with Chess Records in Chicago, followed by the Arhoolie label. In April 1966, Chenier appeared at the Berkeley Blues Festival on the University of California campus and was subsequently described by Ralph J. Gleason, jazz critic of the San Francisco Chronicle, as ... one of the most surprising musicians I have heard in some time, with a marvelously moving style of playing the accordion ... blues accordion, thats right, blues accordion.[7] Chenier was the first act to play at Antones, a blues club on Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. Later in 1976, he reached a national audience when he appeared on the premiere season of the PBS music program Austin City Limits.[8] Three years later in 1979 he returned to the show with his Red Hot Louisiana Band.[9] Cheniers popularity peaked in the 1980s, and he was recognized with a Grammy Award in 1983 for his album Im Here.[1] It was the first Grammy for his new label Alligator Records. Chenier followed Queen Ida as the second Louisiana Creole to win a Grammy. Chenier is credited with redesigning the wood and crimped tin washboard into the vest frottoir, an instrument that would easily hang from the shoulders. Cleveland Chenier, Cliftons older brother, also played in the Red Hot Louisiana Band. He found popularity for his ability to manipulate the distinctive sound of the frottoir by rubbing several bottle openers (held in each hand) along its ridges. During their prime, Chenier and his band traveled throughout the world. Later years and death Chenier suffered from diabetes which eventually forced him to have a foot amputated and required dialysis because of associated kidney problems.[1] He died of diabetes-related kidney disease in December 1987 in Lafayette, Louisiana,[2] and was buried in All Souls Cemetery in Loreauville, Iberia Parish, Louisiana. Legacy and tributes Since 1987, C. J. Chenier (born Clayton Joseph Thompson) has carried on the zydeco tradition by touring with Cheniers band and recording albums.[10][11] In 1989, Chenier was inducted posthumously into the Blues Hall of Fame, and in 2011, was inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame. Rory Gallagher wrote a song in tribute to Chenier entitled The King of Zydeco. Paul Simon mentioned Chenier in his song That Was Your Mother, from his 1986 album Graceland. John Mellencamp refers to Clifton in his song Lafayette, about the Louisiana city where Chenier often performed. The song is on Mellencamps 2003 album Trouble No More. Zachary Richard mentioned Chenier in his song Clifs Zydeco (on Richards 2012 album Le Fou). The jam band Phish often covers Cheniers song My Soul in live performances.[12] Chenier is the subject of Les Blanks 1973 documentary film, Hot Pepper.youtu.be/jcsK36zVfE8
Posted on: Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:25:22 +0000
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